Disciplemaking | Grow in relationship with God | Know and live from the Scriptures | Live among those who don’t know Christ | Engage in community with other Christ-followers | Show Christ-followers how to help others follow Christ

It’s All About: Location, Location, Location

Fishing experts say that 90 percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water. One way this manifests itself is that trout are located at different depths at different times of day. To adjust for this, fly fisherman use different amounts of weights to get their fly to the depth of water where the fish are feeding. Actually—interesting fact, when tying flies, wrap some heavy material on the hook, to make the fly weighted.

This same idea is helpful when we think about our efforts to share the gospel. We need to hang out where the “fish” are. It’s the incarnational approach to evangelism. In The Navigators we want to raise up people who are living and discipling among the those yet to know Christ.

As we mentioned a couple posts ago, it is most clearly seen in God coming to live in our midst. John 1:14 describes it.

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish (MSG).

It’s also seen in Philippians 2:5-8,

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

God called His Son Jesus to leave the rights and privileges of heaven to come and live among us. He showed up in our neighborhood.

You may have heard it said that most people spend most of their time at home, at work, and then in a third place—a coffee shop, gym, meetup group, Facebook group, and so forth. Starbucks coined the term “third place” and made it their goal to be the best known third place. Over the years, my wife, Pam, and I have made an effort to pick out “third places” to develop relationships. We need to figure out how to connect with our not-yet-believing friends where they live, work, and play.

Where are places you could begin to hang out to meet new friends or to connect with your not-yet-believing friends, family, and co-workers?